Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Fresno City College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$35,848

21st percentile

60th percentile in California

Est. Median Debt

$14,770

Est. from CA median (4 programs)

Analysis

A criminal justice certificate from Fresno City College positions graduates slightly above the state median for this credential, with first-year earnings of $35,848 compared to California's typical $29,940. That's the good news. The reality check: based on comparable certificate programs at the school, students likely carry about $14,770 in debt—more than California's median of $9,500 for this field and above even the national median. At 0.41 debt-to-earnings, graduates would need nearly half their first year's salary to clear this obligation.

What makes this certificate particularly puzzling is how much stronger outcomes can be at peer California community colleges. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates in similar programs earn over $111,000 in their first year, and even more modest performers like Butte College hit $73,000. Fresno's $35,848 lands well below the national median of $48,388, suggesting either different employment pathways or limited local opportunities in higher-paying public safety roles.

For parents, the math is straightforward: this certificate costs more than typical California programs in the field while producing below-average earnings nationally. Unless your student has a specific local opportunity lined up or views this as a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree, exploring other California community colleges with stronger criminal justice outcomes would be prudent.

Where Fresno City College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Fresno City College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (106 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Fresno City CollegeFresno	$1,334	$35,848	—	$14,770*	—
Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa	$1,318	$111,649	$92,628	$14,125*	0.13
San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino	$1,185	$94,285	$37,833	$19,500*	0.21
San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego	$1,150	$91,647	—	$13,738*	0.15
Moreno Valley CollegeMoreno Valley	$1,420	$81,339	—	—*	—
Butte CollegeOroville	$1,336	$73,170	$83,782	$15,414*	0.21
National Median	—	$48,388	—	$13,355*	0.28

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Fresno City College, approximately 28% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 10 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.